Receptacle-movement controlled filling apparatus



Dec. 7, 1948, m g, ARDRON 2,455,723

RECEPTACLE-MOVEMENT CONTROLLED FILLING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1943 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 O X I K 4 j U146 ""3 anwmm 1 l zk Dec. 7, 1948. e. L. ARDR'ON RECEP'I'ACLE-MOVEMENT CONTROLLED FILLING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q M N ug 1948. G. ARDRON RECEPTACLE-iiQVEMENT CONTRQLLED FILLING APPARATUS Filed-Hay 3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .QN E

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. v QWN $8 @N mSN Dec. 7, 1948. s. L. ARDRON RECBPTACLE-IOVEMENT CONTROLLED FILLING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. I, 1948 RECEPTACLE-MOVEMENT CONTROLLED FILLING APPARATUS Gerald L. Ardron, Seattle, Wash, Continental Can Company, Inc.,

assignor to New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 3, 1943, Serial No. 485,511 5 Claims. (Cl. 226-99) 1 v This invention relates to container filling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for delivering liquid to containers which previously have received charges of solid material.

In the packing of certain classes of ioods. for example fish, it is usual to fill the containers, e. g. cans, with the solid material, then compress the charge of solid material to provide a space or void in the top of the container, and then deliver liquid such as sauce to the space or void before sealing the container. The liquid or sauce has to seep down into the interstices between the solid food particles and then fill up substantially to the top of the container. Fish often is packed in elongated or oval shaped cans and it is im portant that the liquid or sauce be delivered in a manner to become quickly and evenly distributed throughout and above the solid material.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus including novel valve mechanism for delivering liquid or sauce to containers previously charged with solid material in such manner that.

the liquid or sauce will find its way to all parts of the container very quickly and evenly.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to in which a plurality of liquid delivery devices controlled by improved valve mechanism are so mounted and operated as to deliver the liquid simultaneously adjacent both ends of an oval shaped container.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to in which the means for delivering and controlling the delivery of the fiuid includes an improved valve construction and diaphragm seal between a liquid supply means e. g. a tank, and the valve means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for trimming off any solid material from the top edges of the -containers so as to leave the edges clear and unobstructed, thereby preparing them for being brought into proper sealing contact with a filler head.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top view partially in plan and partially in horizontal section showing parts of an apparatus embodying the invention and illustrating more particularly the path followed by cans or containers while being prepared for being filled and while being filled.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing on an enlarged scale mechanism for vacuumizing' and delivering liquid or sauce to containers which previously have been charged with solid material.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modified filling head construction applied to a tank of which only portions are shown;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 with the tank-portions not being shown; and

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the filling head shown in Figures 4 and 5.

.The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings includes container feeding mechanism generally designated A, a combined packer and trimmer unit B, a saucing or filling unit C. and a container discharging mechanism D. Cans X, elongated in plan, are first received by the mechanism A which delivers them to the packing and trimmer unit l3 for having the solid material which previously was placed in the cans compressed or packed and for cutting or trimming oil any particles of the solid material which overhang the top edges of the cans. After the packing and trimming operations have been performed, the cans are delivered to the filler unit C in which they are vacuumized and filled with asauce or other suitable liquid. The filled containers are then discharged on the conveyor D which may deliver them to a suitable mechanism (not shown) for seaming tops or ends on the filled containers.

The feeding mechanism A includes a timing or feeding screw I, juxtaposed to guide means comprising yieldable parts 2 and 3 pivotally mounted as at 4. The yieldable guide means is of a known construction and does not require detailed description. A weighted arm 5 is provided for yieldably urging the guide part 3 to hold the, cans X in contact with the feeding screw I.

When the cans X are discharged by the screw l, they are engaged by a two-armed transfer turret 6 which cooperates with a fixed arcuate guide I to deliver the cans into pockets 8 of a turret 9. The turret 9 is formed with a hub Ill mounted to rotate on bearing liners Illa surrounding a stationary spindle ll mounted on a main frame II. The turret 9 rotates clockwise as viewed in Figure 1 and during the first part of a cans travel with the turret, the can is held in the associated pocket 8 by a stationary arcuate guide 13.

y when a can X moves beyond the guide l3, two

gripper arms it are moved into engagement with the outside of the can for pressing it firmly into the pocket 8. While being held by the arms i4,

mechanism to be described operates to compress the solid material and operate the edge trimmer. After these operations have been completed, the arms H are retracted and the can continues to move around, being held in its associated pocket 6 by a stationary arcuate guide i5. After the can moves beyond the guide it is displaced from the turret 9 by a deflecting guide I6 anda twoarmed transfer turret i! which feeds the can along the guide l6 and into one of a plurality of pockets l9 formed in a rotatable filler turret i9. The turret l9 has a hub journaled by roller bearings 2| to rotate about a stationary hollow spindle 22 fixed to the main frame l2. The turret l9 also rotates clockwise as viewed in Figure 1 and during the travel of the cans with the turret l9, they are held in their associated pockets l9 by a fixed arcuate guide 23. While being carried around by the turret iii the cans are vacu umized and filled with sauce or other liquid. Thereafter they are displaced from the pockets i8 by a three-armed transfer turret 24 which moves the cans in contact with a fixed arcuate guide 25 and thence onto a discharge conveyor 26 which carries the filled cans off between fixed parallel guides 21.

The combined packing and trimming unitB and filler unit C are driven in timed relation from a shaft 29 to which is fixed a sprocket 29. A chain 36'engaging the sprocket 29 is trained around a sprocket 3| fast with a shaft 32 journaled on a bracket 33 carried by the main frame l2. A bevel gear 34 fast with the shaft 32 meshes with a bevel gear 35 secured to a vertical shaft 36 Journaled in a frame carried bearing 37. A

gear 39 fast with the shaft 36 meshes with a gear 39 secured by screws 49 to the hub l9 of the turret 9. A gear 4| also meshing with the gear 38 is secured by screws 42 to the hub 20 of the turret l9. Both turrets 9 and i9 are driven from the same power source and therefore in timed relation. The feed screw I, the transfer turrets 6, l1 and 24, and the-conveyor 26 also are. driven in time with the turrets 9 and 9 by any suitable drive transmission mechanism (not shown) As previously stated cans being carried around with the packer and trimmer turret 9 are held firmly in the pockets 8 by the gripper arms l4 during the packing and trimming operations. For this purpose there is associated with each pocket 8 a block 43 slidable in grooves 44 formed in a bracket 45 which is fixed with respect to the turret 9.

An arm 46 carrying two spaced gripper fingers M at its outer end is pivoted as at 41 on each bracket 45. Normally, that is, when a pocket 9, is not passing through the packing and trimming zone, the associated arm 46 and fingers |4' will be lowered as shown at the right hand side of the turret 9 in Figure 2. Mechanism for moving each arm 46 and gripper finger |4 assembly to cause the finger Hi to grip the can X includes an extension 49 carrying at its inner end a pair of cam follower rollers 49 adapted to operate in a groove 59 formed in a cam 5| which is fixed to theturret 9 and is rotatable therewith. The cross sectional contour of the groove 59 is such that when a block 43 moves inwardly toward the spindle Ii, the associated rollers 49 will follow the groove 50 and rock the lever 46 in such a manner that the gripper arm I 4 first is moved upwardly alongside the associated can X after which the arm 46 and gripper arms |5 move in a substantially horizontal direction so as to engage the can X and hold it firmly in the pocket 9 without, however, tending 2 to lift the can. The arm 46 and gripper arms radially in response to rotation of the turret 9 so as to bring about the cam-actuated rocking of the arms 46 referred to above. In the embodiment shown, the sliding of the blocks 43 is effected by cam mechanism which includes in association with each of the blocks 43 a pin 52 secured to the block and equipped at its lower end with a cam follower roller 53 operable in a groove 54 formed in a cam member 55 fixed to the frame I2.

The timing of the sequence of operations of the arm and fingers assemblies 46|4 with reference to travel of the turret 9 is indicated in Figure 1. During the travel of the turret through the angle a the assemblies 46-44 rise, during the travel through the angle 1) the parts 46- are up. during the travel through the angle 0 the parts 46|4 are being lowered, and during travel through the angle (1 the parts 46- are down.

Referring now to the mechanism for compressing or packing the solid material previously placed in the containers and for trimming off any solid material which may overhang the top edges of the containers, a spider 56 including a hub 51 is rotatable on bearings 59 surrounding the stationary spindle Above each pocket 8 the spider 56 is provided with a sleeve 59 fitted with a bearing liner 69 which journals a sleeve 6| formed at its lower end with a fiange 62 on which trimming arms 63-63 are mounted.

The stem 64 extends through the sleeve 6| and at its lower end carries a packer pad or compressor 65 secured to the spindle by a screw 66, the packer pad 65 underlying the trimming arms 63. The pad 65 is shaped to fit closely within cans of elliptical or oval shape and so that the space formed by the packing will be deepest adjacent the two ends of the cans.

For individually raising and lowering each packer pad and trimming arm assembly the associated stems 64 are reduced as at 6'! to provide shoulders 69. Mounted on each stem reduced portion 61 is a sleeve bracket 69 held against the associated shoulder 69 by a nut 19 screwed onto a threaded projection 16a and against a washer 1|. The spindle reduced portion 6'! preferably is a little shorter than the bore in the sleeve bracket 69 so as to enable adjustment of the height of the bracket 69 relative to the spindle by interposing a shim or shims between the bottom of the bracket 69 and the shoulder 69.

Each bracket 69 carries a pin 12 equipped with a pair of cam follower rollers 13 operable in a groove I4 formed in a cam 15 fixed to the stationary spindle Each sleeve bracket 69 is formed with a guide portion 69a which extends through a guide slot 16 in a shield 11 carried by and rotatable with the turret 9. A collar 19 secured to each stem 64 engages the upper end of the associated sleeve 6| and prevents movement of the stem 64 downwardly with respect to the sleeve 6|. Thus the collar 19 at the upper end of the sleeve 6| and the trimming arms 63 and pad 65 at the lower end of the sleeve 6| maintain the sleeve 6| and the stem 64 against relative endwise movement.

In operation as the pockets 8 and associated trimming and packing mechanism move around with the turret 9 the cam rollers 73- carried by t ll: 12m;

some 5 the stems I! will be moved downwardly to lower SI and spindles ll, thereby projecting pads it into the containers 2: and bringing the trimming arms 83 into engagement with the top edges-of the cans.

when the packing pad ti and trimming arm ll havebeen thus positioned, the arms 63 are oscillated back and forth through an angle of about 100". This back and forth movement of the arms II while engaging the top edges of the cans isparticularly eflective in removing any overhanging bits of material, such as fish meat, bones, or skin; The reversal of movement incident to the oscillation of the trimming arms is efiective to dislodge any particles which other-.

wise could have a tendency to be moved along the edge of the cans without being dislodged during movement of the arms 63 in one direction only.

The mechanism for operating the trimmer arms M associated with each pocket 8 includes a gear it splined as at 80 on the trimming arm sleeve bi. The gear is constrained to rotate with the sleeve and is maintained against vertical movement by being mounted in an annular seat coniointly provided by the relatively fixed sleeve 59 and the bottom of the shield 11. A lever 81 pivoted as at 82 on the turret spider 56 is formed with a gear sector 83 meshing with the gear 79. An arm fast with the lever 8| mounts a cam follower roller 84 which is operable in a groove e5 formed in a cam 86 secured to the stationary spindle M. It will be understood that for each station or pocket 8 there is provided packingand trimming mechanism of the kind described above. each mechanism including operating means comprising a gear 19, lever 8|, gear sector 83, and roller 84 operating in the cam groove 85.

its upper end with a horizontal pad I. A litter 91 mounted to slide in a bore 92a in each support 90 is equipped with a pin 93 mounting cam follower rollers 9i operable in a groove 8! formed in a cam 9| fixed to the frame l2. 'iheliiterv \Connections between the lifters 92 and the associated can supports 90 provide for raising and lowering of the supports 80 in response to the rotation of the turret l9. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention these connections include yieldable force transmitting means and means for positively transmitting force. so arranged that during'the first upward movement of the litters 92, the supports 90 will be moved upwardly by a yielding or impositive force transmitting connection until upward movement of the supports is resisted, whereupon the supports will be driven positively upwardly to efi'ect the opening of a filling valve to be described later.

1 For. this purpose each pad 90 is formed with a The packer pad and trimming arm assemblies may be adjusted simultaneously for height by means of a screw Ha having threaded engagement with the cam 15 and having its end bearing on the cam 86.

' In operation, rotation of the turret 9 about the spindle II will cause the rollers 84 to be moved by the cam 85 so as to rock the levers BI and gear sectors 83, thereby rotating the gears l9, sleeves BI, and trimming arms 63. As the rollers travel around the cam 86 the rocking of the levers 8| will be reversed so as to rotate the gears 19, sleeves 6i, and trimming arms 63 in t e opposite direction thereby effecting the desired back and forth oscillatory movement.

The timing of the operation of the packer and trimming mechanism with reference to the rotation of the turret 9 is indicated in Figure 1. Durmg the travel of the packer pads 65 and trimming arms 63 through the angle e the pads and trim-v ming arms descend, during travel through the angle f they are downin operative position, during travel through the angle 9 they rise, and during travel through the angle 11. they are up.

After the packing and trimming operations have been performed, the cam rollers 13 follow the groove ll and lift the packing pads and trimming arms 63 away from the associated cans x which will be in readiness to be delivered to the filling unit C.

The packed and trimmed cans will be moved to the turret IS in the manner previously described and will be deposited successively upon can pads for supporting thecans in predetermined positions. Below each pocket It is a sleeve bracket 88 rotatable with the turret IS. A hearing liner 89 mounted within each bracket 88 mounts for sliding movements a can support 90 formed at bore 89 which receives for sliding movement arod I00 having at its lower end a flange mi normally spaced from an abutment face iilla on the support 80. A disk Hi2 secured to the upper end of the rod I00 by a screw lil3'is mounted to slide in a counter-bore Hi l in the support pad 8|. A cover I05 is mounted on top of the support pad 9i and extends across the counter-bore I. The thickness of the disk I02 is somewhat less than the depth of the counter-bore Hi4 so that normally there is clearance between the top of the disk and the bottom of the cover I05. A spring Hi6 housed in a recess ll'il in the support 90 has its opposite ends engaging respectively with the root of therecess Hi1 and the flange "ii.

In operation, when each lifter 92 is raised it will push upwardly on the flange liii and the spring JOB which in turn yieldably pushes upwardly on the support 90. After the support has been lifted a predetermined distance, its further upward movement will be resisted by engagement with a filler head to be described, and the spring I06 will yield to permit the support to remain stationary while the lifter 92 continues to move upwardly. When the flange lill engages the abutment face liiia, the support 90 will be raised positively to raise the filler head and open a filler valve as will be described later. v p

A tank I08 for containing the sauce or other liquid to be delivered to the cans is mounted above the turret l9 so as to rotate therewith. The desired liquid level is maintained in the tank by any suitable means such as a float I09 carried by the lower end of a rod H0 extendingthrough an opening I i I in the top of the tank and being con nected to a lever H3 arranged to operate a valve I I. The valve 1 I4 is adapted to control the supply of sauce or liquid through a pipe (not shown) which may be arran ed to extend downwardly through the opening I i I.

Distribution of the sauce throughout the containers previously charged with solid material is facilitated and made more even by drawing a vacuum in each container before the sauce is delivered. For this purpose, a main vacuum passage H5 is mounted within the stationary hollow spindle 22 and means are provided for connecting the vacuum passage to the containers and assures then delivering the sauce. Such means includes for each station or pocket I8 a filler head adapted temporarily to seal the container and valve means for successively connecting the container with the vacuum passage H6 and the tank I08.

Directly above each support pad 9| the tank I06 is formed with two vertical openings H6 so disposed that their centers are located between the center of the oval shaped container X and its opposite ends respectively. Integral with the tank bottom and extending into each opening H6 is a plurality of guide ribs II'I supporting a boss H8. A filler head H9 extending under the pair of openings H6 associated with each turret pocket I8 includes a horizontal plate-like portion 9a and two upstanding annular flanges I20. The inner wall of each flange I20 has'sliding engagement with the lower portions of the associated ribs H1 so that the flanges I20 and consequently the fillerheads I I6 are guided for vertical movements.

Each filler head H9 is formed with two valve ports I2! respectively located coaxially with respect to the flanges I20 and being respectively in communication with the openings I I6. The ports I2I are located respectively at points between the middle of an associated can X and the opposite ends of the can, bothports I2I being disposed above the major axis of the can. A valve seat I22 surrounding each port I2I is cooperable with a valve member comprising a stem I23 and a valve head I24 provided with resilient facing material I25 engageable with the associated seat I222. The valve stems I23 are mounted fixedly in the bosses H9.

Normally the heads I I9 are held downwardly by springs I26 so that the valve seats I22 are closed on the valve heads I24. When the filler heads I I9 are raised, the valve seats I22 will be moved away from the stationary valve heads I24 thereby providing communication between the tank I08, the openings H6, the valve ports I2! and the containers X positioned under the filling heads H9.

It is necessary that the spaces between the filling heads H9 and their associated openings I I6 be sealed. For this purpose a diaphragm I21 of rubber or other resilient material is disposed between the walls of each opening I I6 and the associated filler head flange I 20. The inner edges of the diaphragms I21 are secured to the filler head flanges I20 by rings I28 held in place by screws I29, The outer edges of the diaphragms are connected to the tank adjacent the openings I I6 by rings I30 held in place by screws I3I. The raising and lowering of the heads H9 for, opening and closing the liquid delivery devices I22- I24 can be effected without disturbing the diaphragm seal between the bottom of. the tank and the filler heads. The heads H9 are raised by upward movement of the cans X positioned on the supports 90 which are lifted and lowered by the lifters 92 in the manner previously described.

Preferably the filler heads I I9 are equipped with sealing rings I32 of rubber or other suitable resilient material adapted to be engaged by the top edges of the containers X.

Vacuumizing of the cans X is eifected after the cans have moved into engagement with the filling heads H9 but before the heads H9 have been lifted. For this purpose each head H9 is formed with a vacuum port I33 equipped with a fitting I34 to which is attached a flexible conduit, such as a rubber hose I 35. Each conduit I35 is connected in turn to a fitting I 36 communicating with a port I31 in a distributor ring I38 mounted to rotate with the turret I9. Springs I39 interposed between the bottom of the tank I08 and the ring I38 press the ring against a stationary ring I40 formed with a port I communicating with a passage I42 in a fitting I43 connected to the upper end of the main vacuum pipe H6. The arrangement is such that as the turret I9 rotates, the ports I31 associated with the respective heads I I9 register successively with the port I so as to connect the vacuum passages I33 with the main vacuum passage I I6 successively. The mechanism is so timed that each vacuum passage I33 will placed in communication with the main vacuum e gassage I I5 just after the associated can X has been moved into sealing engagement with the flller head I I9, but before the head has been lifted sufficiently to open the filler valve ports I2I. The respective ports I31 move out of registry with the port I4I a little before or at about the time that the valve port I2I is opened so that drawing of sauce back through the vacuum line is avoided.

I similarly to the openings H6. Aligned with each The lag in opening of the port I2I following engagement of the can with the filler head H9 is provided by the yielding of the springs i26 which permits the support 90 and associated can X to remain stationary after the can engages the flller head H9 and until the flange IOI moves into contact with the abutment face IOIa.

Preferably each flller head H9 is provided with displacer pads I44 which limit the amount of sauce that can be delivered to the can and insure that when the can is moved down from the filler head I I9 a small predetermined space will be left between the level of the sauce in the can and the top edge of the can.

The timing of the movements of the can pads 90, the vacuumizing, and the saucing is indicated in Figure 1. During travel of a filler head I I9 and associated pad 90 through the angles i and k the can pad israised, during travel through the angle a the can is vacuumized, during travel through the angle 1 the can pad is up and the filler valve devices are open for saucing, during travel through the angle m the pad descends, and during travel through the angle 11. the can pad is down.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a modified filler head construction which may be used in place of the head constructionH9 previously described. Directly above each support pad 9| the tank I06 is formed with two vertical openings I45 located opening I45 is a fixed guide member I46 held in place by screws I41. Slidable in each guide member I46 is a movable guide member I48. The guide members I46 and I48 respectively are formed with flanges I49 and I50 engaged by the opposite ends of springs I5I tending to hold the movable guide members down. The guide members I48 also are formed with flanges I52 which bear against the top of a sealing head plate I53 formed with valve port openings I54 aligned with the openings I45. Rubber throat members I55 extend between the openings I45 and I54 and have anchoring portions I56 and I51 clamped respectively between the flanges I49 and the tank I08, and between the flanges I50 and the head plate I53. The throat members prevent sauce sheaves I53 is equipped with a sealing ring I83 partially I" overlapped and held in place by a head bottom plate I64 secured to the plate I53 by screws iii. when a can x is raised it will first move into sealing contact with the ring I68, it will then the can will lift the head T53 to open the filler valves.- 4 a The heads I53 are constructed similarly to the heads M9 for vacuumizing the cans prior be vacuumized, and finally continued raising of is to saucing. ,Thus, as shown in Figure 5, the head 9 I53 has a vacuum passage I66 equipped with a fitting it! to which is attached the flexible conduit I35 in turn connected to the fitting I36. The bottom plate I is formed with channels providing vacuumizing passages 58 communicating with the passage I66 and opening 'at the periphcry of the plate Ifit so as to efiect quick and.

equalized evacuation of the cans.

The apparatus disclosed herein embodies the invention in the form now preferred, but it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim: t

" 1. In apparatus for delivering liquid to containers, a relatively fixed part formed with a vertical opening through which fluid may be delivered; a filler head under said fixed part; a

guide member on said fixed part and-having sliding engagement with said movable guide member; a spring interposed between said guide members and urging said filler head downwardly away movable guide member on said filler head; a fixed 40 from said fixed part; a valve port extending d5 through said filler head under said opening; a valve seat on the bottom of said filler head and surrounding said port; a valve member carried by said fixed part and being engageable by said valve seat; and an axially resilient throat mem-,

her interposed between said vertical opening and said valve port, said throat member engaging said relatively fixed part adjacent said vertical opening and engaging said filler head adjacent said valve port and serving to prevent liquid passing from said opening to said port from contacting said spring and said guide members.

2. In apparatus for delivering liquid to containers, a relatively fixed part formed with a vertical opening through which fluid may be delivered; a filler head under said fixed part; a

, movable guide member bearing on the top of said filler head; a fixed guide member attached to the bottom of said fixed part and having sliding engagement with said movable guide member; a

spring interposed between said guide members and urging said filler head downwardly away from said fixed part; a valve port extending through said filler head under said opening; a

valve seat on the bottom of'said filler head and surrounding said port; a valve member carried by said fixed part and being engageable by said valve seat; and a resilient throat member interposed between said vertical opening and said valve 10 saidopeningtosaidportirom contactingsaid spring and said guide m, said throat member having fianges at its upper and lower ends clamped respectively between said fixed guide member and said fixed part, and between said movable guide member and said filler head.

3. In apparatus for delivering liquid to containers, a relatively fixed part formed with a vertical opening through which fiuid may be delivered; a filler head imder said fixed part; a movable guide part on said filler head; a fixed guide part on said fixed part and having sliding engagement with said movable guide part; spring means interposed between said fixed part and said head and urging said head downwardly away from said fixed part; a valve port extending through said filler head under said opening: a valve seat on the bottom of said filler head and surrounding said port; a valve member carried by said fixed part and being engageable by said valve seat; and a resilient rubber member fixed respectively to said fixed part and to said head and'being between said spring means and the vertical opening in said fixed part whereby to prevent contact of the liquid with said spring means.

4. An apparatus for delivering liquid to containers which are oval in plan, comprising a tank having a pair of spaced discharge openings in the bottom thereof, a rigid filler head associated with said openings beneath the tank and having a pair of similarly disposed filler openings in said filler head, means for directing fluid from the openings in the tank to the openings in the filler head, a valve seat surrounding each opening in the filler head at the lower side thereof, a stationary valve disposed beneath each valve seat, means for yieldingly pressing the filler head downward and the seats thereon against said valves, a gasket mounted on the under side of the filler-head and surrounding said openings therethrough, saidgasket being shaped to corn form to the open end of an oval container, and said filler openings being disposed along the'major axis of the container, a container support beneath said filler head, andmeans for raising said container support for moving the container into sealing engagement with the gasket on the filler head and for raising the filler head from said valves for discharging liquid into the container.

5. An apparatus for delivering liquid to containers which are oval in plan, comprising a tank having a pair of spaced discharge openings in the bottom thereof, a rigid filler head associated with said openings beneath the tank and having a pair of similarly disposed filler openings in said filler head, means for directing fluid from the openings in the tank to the openings in the filler head, a valve seat surrounding each opening in the filler head at the lower side thereof, a stationary valve disposed beneath each valve seat. means for yieldingly pressing the filler head-downward and the seats thereon against said valves, a gasket mounted on the under side of the filler head and surrounding said openings therethrough, said gasket being shaped to conform to the open end of an oval container, said filler openings being disposed along the major axis of the container, 9. container support beneath said filler head, means for raising said container support for moving the container into sealing engagement with the gasket on the filler head and for raisport and serving to prevent liquid passing from 7 5 ing a port opening at the bottom thereof and at 11 a point between the delivery devices, means for connecting said port to a. vacuum line for drawing a vacuum on the container, and means for controlling the port leading to the vacuum lineso that said port will be connected to the vacuum line after the can has been moved into sealing engagement with the gasket and beiore the filler head is raised for opening he valves.

GERALD L. ARDRON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Calleson May 9, 1916 20 Number Number Name Date Ayars Jan. 8, 1924 McGhee Sept. 20, 1932 Leonard Oct. 8, 1935 Young Jan. 7, 1936 Glunz May 26, 1938 Tewander July 14, 1938 Ransom Sept. 14, 1937 Hubmann et a1. Feb. 28, 1939 Stellitano Aug. 1, 1939 Kerr May 27, 1941 Morrel Aug. 25, 1942 Russell Nov. 3, 1942 McBean June 15, 1943 Minard July 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Aug. 6, 1942 

